Cassian’s POVThe minutes crawled by.I sat there, waiting, in the dim, luxurious expanse of my private wing. Only the low hum of the mansion beyond the windows filled the silence. My wheelchair was positioned just so, facing the door.She was late.Good for her.Let her hesitate. Let her dread.It made the hunt and fun that much sweeter.Then—finally—a soft, tentative knock.My smirk curved slowly and deliberately across my mouth.Let the game begin."Enter," I called lazily, voice carrying the sharpness of a blade hidden beneath silk.The door creaked open, and she stepped inside. Reina. My little captive angel. Her hair still damp from the shower, her frame taut with nervous energy she tried — and failed — to hide.Perfect.I watched her cross the room, head bowed slightly, hands folded in front of her like she thought modesty would save her here.I let the silence thicken until she was standing right in front of me."Tell me about your day," I said, voice low and dark, trailing de
Cassian’s POVShe fumbled with the button of my pants using her mouth, her movements awkward, desperate.I didn't lift a finger to help her.Didn’t even move.I wanted her to struggle.I wanted her to earn every scrap of information she thought she wanted so badly.After an agonizing few seconds, she managed to undo it, the zipper rasping loud in the heavy silence between us.I shifted my hips just enough for her to pull my pants down, freeing the thick weight of my cock.It sprang free, heavy and hard, already leaking at the tip.The sight of it made her flinch slightly—whether in fear or shame, I didn’t know.Didn't care."Take it in your hands," I said, voice like velvet dragged over a blade.She froze. Eyes wide. I struggled to stay sane as I stared into her wide eyes.Trembling fingers reached up, wrapping around the base. I could feel her cursing under her breath.I hissed in pleasure at the first contact.God, she was small.Fragile.I could crush her if I wanted.And she would
Cassian’s POVI let the silence stretch, watched her struggle to process it — to accept it.It was beautiful.Watching her pride fracture.Watching her soul bend. Watching her grind her teeth in barely restrained fury.I loved every bit of it."But," I added, voice dangerously soft, "if you disappoint me... if you defy me... if you so much as hesitate when I give you an order..."I let the threat hang heavy in the air between us.I didn’t need to say it.She knew.She knew exactly what would happen.Joshua’s face flashed in her mind — I could see it — and she crumpled a little more.Sank a little deeper into submission.Perfect."Now," I said, brushing a knuckle over her tear-streaked cheek almost affectionately, "you’re going to kiss my cock. Just a kiss. Cause you might be tempted to do more.”Her eyes widened in horror."I—" she croaked.I backhanded her across the face — not hard enough to injure, but hard enough to shock.Hard enough to remind her.She gasped, cradling her cheek,
Cassian’s POVShe stiffened.“It won’t be the first time now, Mr Morelli. Or do I need to remind you how many times you’ve done this. How many times you’ve seen me naked,” she spat angrily amidst tears.“And yet, I never seem to get enough of you. Now, sweet Reina. Hands at your sides.”Slowly, miserably, she obeyed, lowering her arms and standing there — naked, humiliated, trembling — under my gaze.Her cheeks were burning, streaked with tears, but she didn’t speak again.Didn’t plead.She was learning to take it all in.I let the silence stretch out, savoring the way her shame grew heavier with every second, until it pressed down on her like a physical weight."Now," I said, voice light, almost playful. "Touch yourself for me, little nurse."She hesitated — just for a heartbeat — before one trembling hand slipped between her thighs.But I leaned forward slightly, voice turning sharp."Eyes on me."She jerked like I’d slapped her.And then — slowly — she raised her tear-filled angry
REINA’s POVShame. That was all I could feel.I have never felt so humiliated in my life.Not even when Anthony ripped me apart years ago, body and soul.Not even when he and his mother left me bleeding and trembling, cursing myself for surviving.Because at least then, I knew what monsters looked like.Now?Now the monsters smiled.They whispered sweet promises with one hand, while wrapping a noose around my neck with the other.Why are men such beasts?Why do they get off on seeing women shatter, on grinding dignity into dust?I hate Cassian Morelli so bad it hurts to look at him.I wanted to run — to tear myself out of this room, lock myself away in some abandoned island and scream until my lungs gave out.I wanted so badly to plot a thousand ways to make him pay for this, to return the kindness in full.But then Joshua’s face flashed in my mind.That radiant smile that I dragged into my mess. An image flashed in my mind. The look on his face when the bullet pierced his body. His
Reina’s POVThe nightmare always began the same way. The sound of footsteps in the hallway. The creak of a door opening. A shadow stretching across the floor, swallowing me whole. I curled into myself, pressing my little fingers against my ears, trying to block out the hushed voices outside my bedroom. But nothing could stop the sickly sweetness of alcohol and cologne from seeping under the door, wrapping around my throat like a noose. “Be a good girl, Reina.” The words slithered into my mind, the same way they had that night. The sheets tangled around my legs, my body frozen as the dark figure loomed over me, a hand brushing over my cheek. Then the pressure. The searing pain. The muffled scream. I jerked awake with a sharp gasp, my chest rising and falling in panicked, shallow breaths. Sweat dampened my forehead, my nightshirt clinging to my skin. I pressed the heel of my palms against my eyes, willing the images away. It wasn’t real. Not anymore. But my body st
Reina’s POVI should not be here.The thought slams into me the moment I step foot inside Cassian Morelli’s mansion.The sitting room is cold, impersonal. The walls, a pristine white, are lined with art pieces I don’t recognize, their worth probably more than I’ll ever make in my lifetime. The ceiling stretches high, disappearing into shadows cast by the golden chandelier above. The space is beautiful, immaculate… and yet, suffocating.Like a cage.I sit stiffly on the edge of an expensive leather couch, hands clasped in my lap, trying to steady my breath. The silence stretches, thick with something I can’t name. The only sound is the soft tick of a clock somewhere in the room, each second dragging like an eternity.I am not here to admire the wealth, I remind myself. I am here for a job. A mission.I inhale deeply, pressing my shoulders back. The police made it clear—I have no choice. I either infiltrate Cassian Morelli’s life, or I rot in a prison cell for the death of David Lance.
Cassian’s POV She doesn’t flinch. Not at the gunshot. Not at the body crumpling to the floor. Not even when the blood splatters against her pale skin, staining her like a mark of initiation. Interesting. I lean back, studying her. The woman sent to fix me. From the moment her name crossed my desk, I was hooked. Reina Vale. I wasn’t supposed to notice her. She was just another applicant, another name on a list of so-called professionals meant to oversee my recovery. But something about her stopped me. Held me. And I don’t ignore my instincts. It didn’t take long for my men to dig into her past—every alias, every address, every secret she thought was buried. It didn’t take long for me to discover the truth. She was sent here to spy on me. A lamb dressed as a healer, walking willingly into the wolf’s den. How fucking adorable. Did she think I wouldn’t know? That I wouldn’t recognize a setup when I saw one? That I haven’t seen her kind before—liars who pretend to
REINA’s POVShame. That was all I could feel.I have never felt so humiliated in my life.Not even when Anthony ripped me apart years ago, body and soul.Not even when he and his mother left me bleeding and trembling, cursing myself for surviving.Because at least then, I knew what monsters looked like.Now?Now the monsters smiled.They whispered sweet promises with one hand, while wrapping a noose around my neck with the other.Why are men such beasts?Why do they get off on seeing women shatter, on grinding dignity into dust?I hate Cassian Morelli so bad it hurts to look at him.I wanted to run — to tear myself out of this room, lock myself away in some abandoned island and scream until my lungs gave out.I wanted so badly to plot a thousand ways to make him pay for this, to return the kindness in full.But then Joshua’s face flashed in my mind.That radiant smile that I dragged into my mess. An image flashed in my mind. The look on his face when the bullet pierced his body. His
Cassian’s POVShe stiffened.“It won’t be the first time now, Mr Morelli. Or do I need to remind you how many times you’ve done this. How many times you’ve seen me naked,” she spat angrily amidst tears.“And yet, I never seem to get enough of you. Now, sweet Reina. Hands at your sides.”Slowly, miserably, she obeyed, lowering her arms and standing there — naked, humiliated, trembling — under my gaze.Her cheeks were burning, streaked with tears, but she didn’t speak again.Didn’t plead.She was learning to take it all in.I let the silence stretch out, savoring the way her shame grew heavier with every second, until it pressed down on her like a physical weight."Now," I said, voice light, almost playful. "Touch yourself for me, little nurse."She hesitated — just for a heartbeat — before one trembling hand slipped between her thighs.But I leaned forward slightly, voice turning sharp."Eyes on me."She jerked like I’d slapped her.And then — slowly — she raised her tear-filled angry
Cassian’s POVI let the silence stretch, watched her struggle to process it — to accept it.It was beautiful.Watching her pride fracture.Watching her soul bend. Watching her grind her teeth in barely restrained fury.I loved every bit of it."But," I added, voice dangerously soft, "if you disappoint me... if you defy me... if you so much as hesitate when I give you an order..."I let the threat hang heavy in the air between us.I didn’t need to say it.She knew.She knew exactly what would happen.Joshua’s face flashed in her mind — I could see it — and she crumpled a little more.Sank a little deeper into submission.Perfect."Now," I said, brushing a knuckle over her tear-streaked cheek almost affectionately, "you’re going to kiss my cock. Just a kiss. Cause you might be tempted to do more.”Her eyes widened in horror."I—" she croaked.I backhanded her across the face — not hard enough to injure, but hard enough to shock.Hard enough to remind her.She gasped, cradling her cheek,
Cassian’s POVShe fumbled with the button of my pants using her mouth, her movements awkward, desperate.I didn't lift a finger to help her.Didn’t even move.I wanted her to struggle.I wanted her to earn every scrap of information she thought she wanted so badly.After an agonizing few seconds, she managed to undo it, the zipper rasping loud in the heavy silence between us.I shifted my hips just enough for her to pull my pants down, freeing the thick weight of my cock.It sprang free, heavy and hard, already leaking at the tip.The sight of it made her flinch slightly—whether in fear or shame, I didn’t know.Didn't care."Take it in your hands," I said, voice like velvet dragged over a blade.She froze. Eyes wide. I struggled to stay sane as I stared into her wide eyes.Trembling fingers reached up, wrapping around the base. I could feel her cursing under her breath.I hissed in pleasure at the first contact.God, she was small.Fragile.I could crush her if I wanted.And she would
Cassian’s POVThe minutes crawled by.I sat there, waiting, in the dim, luxurious expanse of my private wing. Only the low hum of the mansion beyond the windows filled the silence. My wheelchair was positioned just so, facing the door.She was late.Good for her.Let her hesitate. Let her dread.It made the hunt and fun that much sweeter.Then—finally—a soft, tentative knock.My smirk curved slowly and deliberately across my mouth.Let the game begin."Enter," I called lazily, voice carrying the sharpness of a blade hidden beneath silk.The door creaked open, and she stepped inside. Reina. My little captive angel. Her hair still damp from the shower, her frame taut with nervous energy she tried — and failed — to hide.Perfect.I watched her cross the room, head bowed slightly, hands folded in front of her like she thought modesty would save her here.I let the silence thicken until she was standing right in front of me."Tell me about your day," I said, voice low and dark, trailing de
Cassian’s POVThe traitor’s body was dragged out like the trash he was. His screams still echoed faintly down the corridor, but I was done with him. Let him live. Let him heal.Because when he returned, he wouldn’t be feeding them real intel—only the bits and pieces I permitted. Misinformation. A masterful script of lies designed to fracture them from the inside out. Let them swallow it whole.Two traitors in one day.I could feel the headache pulsing behind my temples.My thoughts drifted to the other one. The first of the day—the one whose bones cracked beneath my fists until they screamed with pain louder than his throat ever could.The one Reina tried to help.He’d tried to broker a deal with one of my offshore suppliers. Claimed it was to streamline costs. Turned out, he was diverting product—skimming from my operation and rerouting it to a rogue buyer linked to the Croatians.I didn’t kill him.No. Death was too final for that kind of betrayal.I had him locked in the sublevel w
Cassian’s POVI stilled.Those bruises weren’t mine.Not this time.And the sight of it broke something in me.As I untied her left hand that was already chained, I kept my gaze fixed on her bruised hand.They were fresh, raw, ugly fingerprints on delicate flesh. A sick hue of blue-black blooming like rot beneath porcelain skin.My chest went still. Then… it erupted.The fury didn’t come loud. It came quiet. The kind of quiet that meant something inside me had broken. Irrevocably. The kind of quiet that always preceded the storm.I yanked her closer, examining the marks as her body stiffened.“Who did this?” I asked, low and grave.She flinched.“I said—who did this?”“I—it’s nothing. It’s no one. It was just an accident,” she whispered.My head snapped up. Her eyes were too wide, her voice too soft. A practiced tremble. A damn lie wrapped in innocence.“An accident?” I echoed, darkly amused.“I bumped into someone in the hallway. That’s all,” she said quickly. “It’s nothing deep or p
Cassian's POV I yanked her closer again, my voice dropping to a venom-laced rasp. “Did he breathe on you? Look at you like you were his?”Her lips trembled. “I’m not a property to be owned by anyone.”The laugh that clawed its way out of my chest wasn’t human. It cracked through the air, sharp and manic.“No?” I tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet my gaze. “Then why do you keep coming back?”She didn't reply. Couldn't.Because we both knew why.“You hate this,” I said, dragging her fingers to the raw cut on my knuckle. “You hate me. But here you are. With trembling hands and bleeding sympathy—for a man who doesn’t even have a name in this house. While I, the devil you can’t stand, am the one holding your leash.”I pressed her palm to my chest—over my heartbeat. Let her feel the violence thudding beneath my skin.“You can never be free, Reina,” I growled. “Not out there. Not in here. You walk out that door again and come back late, I’ll make you pay. You breathe for someone else,
Reina's POV “Oh my god…” I choked, the sound barely escaping my lips.His knuckles were split, red and raw, the dried blood cracking as he flexed his fingers. He hadn’t just ordered this violence—he participated in it. With relish.The second I heard his voice—smooth, arrogant, and soaked in bloodlust—I felt it all crashing back.“Ah,” he said, his voice like velvet dipped in venom. “Welcome home, dolcezza.”Of course, I thought bitterly. Of course I’m back to this.The grotesque image from earlier at Don Marcello’s mansion slammed into my mind like a freight train. That poor man—strung up like livestock. Limp. Broken. The other one that had his tongue cut out also like a fucking livestock.And now… this.Another broken body.Another monster perched on a throne.Birds of the same damn feather, I thought as I stared at Cassian’s bloodied knuckles, his sick smirk, the way he observed pain like it was art.They all wore suits, smoked cigars, and thought pain was poetry.My instincts ove